Cataract Surgery Cost: Kerala vs UK vs USA

Cost at a Glance

Cataract surgery with a standard monofocal lens costs around ₹45,000 per eye in Kerala (roughly $540), compared to $3,500-$5,000 in the USA and £2,500-£3,500 in the UK private sector. Premium multifocal or toric lenses add a similar percentage on top in all three countries.

Lens Options Explained

Standard monofocal lenses correct vision at one distance, usually requiring reading glasses afterward. Multifocal lenses reduce dependence on glasses entirely but cost more. Toric lenses correct astigmatism. Kerala ophthalmology centres stock all three categories from the same international lens manufacturers used in the West.

Same-Day, In-and-Out Procedure

Cataract surgery is one of the fastest procedures to travel for: it takes 15-20 minutes per eye under topical anaesthesia, with patients discharged the same day. Many international patients combine it with a short Kerala holiday during recovery.

Doing Both Eyes in One Trip

Surgeons typically treat the second eye a few days after the first, once the initial eye is stable. This means a single 4-5 day trip is usually enough to treat both eyes rather than requiring two separate visits.

What to Budget For Beyond the Surgery

Beyond the procedure itself, budget for post-op eye drops (usually a 4-6 week course) and a follow-up consultation before flying home to confirm healing is on track.